Protective carrying case

ABSTRACT

A compact case that can be manually carried or carried in another case, for example a brief case, is designed to protect fragile, delicate objects such as laptop computers contained in the case from side impacts of bumping or from dropping the case without appreciably detracting from the compact size of the computer carried in the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (1) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains to a compact carrying case that isdesigned to protect fragile, delicate objects, for example laptop ornotebook computers from damage resulting from impacts due to bumping ofthe case as it is carried or due to dropping the case. Morespecifically, the present invention pertains to a compact case that canbe manually carried or carried in another case, for example a briefcase, that is designed to protect laptop computers should the caseitself or the briefcase in which it is being carried be struck by anobject from the side or be dropped.

[0003] (2) Description of the Related Art

[0004] The use of laptop or notebook computers in business and inpersonal use has become widespread. The popularity of laptop computersis due in large part to their reduced size which makes them easilytransportable. As a result, laptop computers are not only oftentransported by the individual between their home and place of business,but are also often transported by the individual whose business requiresthem to travel to different sites daily, as well as by the individualgoing on a business trip or a vacation pleasure trip.

[0005] Developments in the design of laptop and/or notebook computersinclude the continued reduction in their size which contributes to theease in transporting the computer from place to place. These reducedsize computers can be easily carried in one hand, tucked under an arm orin a brief case or portfolio without taking up much space. However, thereduction in size of laptop computers has also contributed to thefragility of the computer if bumped against an object or dropped, whichcould result in breaking the plastic enclosure common among laptopcomputers as well as causing damage to the delicate electroniccomponents of the computer. This has resulted in the design of carryingcases specifically for laptop computers.

[0006] A typical computer carrying case is constructed with padding, forexample foam padding, at the sides of the carrying case and primarilyalong the bottom of the carrying case where impact will likely occur ifthe carrying case is being manually transported and inadvertentlydropped. However, the disadvantage associated with this type of carryingcase is that the padding of the case increases the overall size of thecase, which detracts from the desirable compactness of the laptopcomputer that makes it easily transportable.

[0007] What is needed to overcome this disadvantage of prior artprotective carrying cases is a carrying case constructed to protectdelicate objects enclosed in the case, for example a laptop or notebookcomputer, from impacts on the sides of the case when carried andprimarily from impact when the case is inadvertently dropped while beingmanually carried, without appreciably detracting from the compactness ofthe computer and its transportability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention overcomes disadvantages associated withprior art protective carrying cases for laptop computers and otherdelicate, fragile objects by providing a protective carrying case thatprotects objects carried in the case from impacts against the sides ofthe case and primarily from an impact against the bottom of the casewhen dropped, without relying on bulky layers of padding along the sidesand bottom of the case that detract from the compactness andtransportability of the object carried by the case.

[0009] The carrying case of the invention is basically comprised of anouter, semirigid enclosure that has an interior volume that contains aprotective pouch or sleeve. The sleeve is less rigid than the outerenclosure and is dimensioned to receive the fragile object, for examplea laptop computer.

[0010] The outer enclosure has a rectangular block configuration that isslightly larger than the laptop computer to be contained in theenclosure. It is constructed of first and second, or front and rear,semirigid panels. When the enclosure is positioned upright the front andrear panels are positioned side by side and are slightly spaced fromeach other. Mutually opposed interior surfaces of the panels define theinterior volume of the enclosure. The interior surfaces of the panelsare constructed of a softer material than the exterior surfaces of thepanels. The spacing of the panels gives the enclosure a top openingbetween the top ends of the front and rear panels. A closure strap issecured to the rear panel and extends across the top opening to thefront panel. A releasable fastener secures the closure strap to thefront panel.

[0011] The protective pouch or sleeve is comprised of first and secondrectangular sheets that are secured to the top ends of the front andrear panels, respectively. The sheets depend downwardly into theinterior volume of the enclosure defined by the panels. In the preferredembodiment, the first and second sheets are secured together along theirside edges forming the sheets into a tubular sleeve. The sleeve has atop opening at the top of the front and rear panels and a bottom openingadjacent the bottoms of the panels.

[0012] A plurality of straps are secured to the bottom end of thesleeve. In the preferred embodiment, the straps are elastic straps. Thestraps are arranged in two groups or sets. Straps of one set have theirtop ends secured to the bottom of the first sheet of the sleeve andtheir bottom ends secured to the bottom of the rear panel of theenclosure. Straps of the second set have their top ends secured to thebottom of the second sheet of the sleeve and their bottom ends securedto the bottom end of the front panel. The front and rear panels areconnected together only by the top end of the sleeve, the bottom ends ofthe two sets of straps and the closure strap. Straps of the first andsecond sets are arranged side by side in an alternating pattern,interweaving the straps of the first and second sets across the bottomopening of the sleeve. The interweaving of the straps of the first andsecond sets across the bottom opening of the sleeve defines a bottom ofthe sleeve on which rests the computer or other object inserted into thesleeve.

[0013] In a modification of the preferred embodiment the plurality ofstraps are modified to accept and support an elongate cushion member. Inthe modified embodiment only the plurality of straps are different. Thefront and rear panels and the sleeve remain the same. In addition, themodified straps include first and second sets of straps that arearranged side by side in an alternating pattern, interweaving the strapsof the first and second sets across the bottom opening of the sleeve.

[0014] The plurality of straps of the modified embodiment are differentin that each strap is a doubled up strap with two overlapping lengthsbetween the top and bottom ends of the strap. The two overlappinglengths are secured together at the top and bottom ends of the strap bythe same stitching that connects the top end of the strap to the sleeveand the bottom end of the strap to one of the front and rear panels.This enables the two overlapping lengths of each strap to be pulledapart and separated from each other exposing a void between the twooverlapping lengths of each strap. The elongate cushion of the modifiedembodiment is inserted through the voids between the overlapping lengthsof each of the straps of the plurality of straps. In this manner, theelongate cushion is suspended below the sleeve and above the bottomedges of the front and rear panels by the plurality of straps. In apreferred embodiment the elongate cushion is a cylindrical foam rod thatis interweaved in the plurality of straps by being inserted through thevoids between the two overlapping lengths of each strap. With thecushion suspended by the straps below the sleeve and above the bottomedges of the front and rear panels, the cushion provides furtherprotection to the contents of the sleeve when the carrying case isdropped and impacts along the bottom edges of the front and rear panels.

[0015] In use, with the carrying case in its upright position, thecomputer or other object is inserted through the top opening of theenclosure defined by the front and rear panels and through the topopening of the sleeve. The computer is inserted downward through thesleeve until the computer passes through the bottom opening of thesleeve and rests on the interweaved straps. The computer is suspendedabove the bottom ends of the front and rear panels by the sleeve and theinterweaved straps connected between the bottom end of the sleeve andthe bottom ends of the front and rear panels. The front and rearsemirigid panels protect the computer from impacts against the sides ofthe carrying case. The interweaved straps, being constructed fromelastic straps, resiliently suspend the computer in the case and protectit from impact with the bottom of the carrying case when the case isinadvertently dropped. The cushion of the modified embodiment providesfurther protection to the computer when the case is dropped.

[0016] Thus, the carrying case of the present invention providesprotection to a delicate, fragile object such as a laptop computerwithout appreciably detracting from the compactness of the computer bysurrounding it with thick layers of padding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further objects and features of the invention are revealed in thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention and in the drawing figures wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carrying case of the inventionshown in its upright orientation;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner pouch or sleeve and theinterweaved straps of the carrying case removed from the outer enclosuredefined by the front and rear panels;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of one of the panels of theenclosure;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a top plain view of the panel of FIG. 3;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the panel of FIG. 3 in a planeof the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 in a plane of the line6-6 of FIG. 3;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a front view of the assembled carrying case;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a rear view of the carrying case;

[0026]FIG. 9 is a top plane view of the carrying case;

[0027]FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the carrying case;

[0028]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of thecarrying case;

[0029]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of thecarrying case; and,

[0030]FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the carrying case of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] The carrying case 12 of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 7through 10. The carrying case 12 is basically comprised of a front orfirst panel 14, a rear or second panel 16, a pouch or sleeve 18 and aplurality of elastic straps 22. The particular size of the carrying case12 will vary depending on the size of the object, for example a laptopor notebook computer, intended to be transported in the case. However,as will be explained, the width of the carrying case 12 conforms to thewidth of the object inserted into the case and therefore, in thepreferred embodiment of the case that is intended to be used intransporting a laptop computer, the case will be dimensioned justslightly larger than the computer. Although the preferred embodiment ofthe case is designed for transporting a laptop computer, it should beunderstood that the case may be used in transporting and protectingother delicate, fragile objects.

[0032] The front 14 and rear 16 panels have the same basic constructionand therefore only the construction of the front panel 14 will bedescribed in detail. The front panel 14 is shown removed from thecarrying case 12 in FIGS. 3 through 6. Each panel 14 has a generalrectangular configuration with opposite exterior 24 and interior 26surfaces. The rectangular configuration of the panel is defined by itsopposite top 28 and bottom 32 edges at respective top 34 and bottom 36ends of the panel, and by its opposite side edges 38 at the oppositeside ends 42 of the panel. The use of the terms “top”, “bottom” and“side” are descriptive only and should not be interpreted as implyingthat the carrying case can only be used in its upright orientation shownin FIG. 1. The preferred embodiment of the panel 14 is compressionmolded of foam and two different types of foam are used. As seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, the panel 14 is molded with a layer 44 of a stiffdurometer foam at its exterior and a layer 46 of a soft durometer foamat its interior. The layer of stiff durometer foam has a greaterthickness at the center of the panel and has a reduced thickness aroundthe perimeter edge of the panel. As seen in FIG. 4, the opposite sideedges 38 of the panel 14 curve inwardly slightly. The stiff foam layer44 is also formed with a rectangular notch 48 at the top end 34 of thepanel to accommodate a closure strap 50 to be described. For appearancepurposes, the thicker regions of the panel could be covered by amaterial such as nylon or taffeta while the thinner edges could becovered by a complementary trim material. The stiff durometer foam layer44 makes the panel 14 semirigid and together with the soft foam layer 46on the interior of the panel, the front 14 and rear 16 panels willprotect the contents of the carrying case 12 from impacts resulting frombumps encountered in carrying the case or from dropping the case. Therear panel 16 is constructed in the same manner as the front panel 14with there being only slight differences in the size of the strapnotches 48 on each panel as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0033] With the carrying case 12 positioned upright as shown in FIG. 1,the interior surfaces of the two panels 14, 16 mutually oppose eachother and are spaced from each other by the sleeve 18 to be described.The opposite side ends 42 of each panel curve around the sleeve 18protecting the ends of the sleeve as well as reinforcing the panels. Thetwo panels 14, 16 provide a semirigid outer enclosure for the sleeve 18.

[0034] An elastic closure strap 50 extends across the top edges 34 ofthe front and rear panels. The closure strap 50 has one end secured tothe rear panel in the strap notch by adhesive, stitching or otherequivalent means. The opposite end of the strap is releasably attachedto the front panel 14 in the strap notch 48 by a releasable fastenersuch as a hook and loop type fastener, by snaps or by other equivalenttype fasteners.

[0035]FIG. 2 shows the sleeve 18 removed from the front and rear panels14, 16. The sleeve 18 is basically comprised of a first sheet 52 andsecond sheet 54, or front sheet and rear sheet respectively, of fabricsuch as nylon or other equivalent fabric. Each sheet 52, 54 is generallyrectangular and has opposite top 56, 58 and bottom 62, 64 ends andopposite side ends 66, 68. The opposite side ends 66, 68 of the sheetsare sewn together forming the tubular sleeve 18, with the sleeve havingopposite top 72 and bottom 74 openings. The seam formed by sewingtogether the sheet side ends 66, 68 could be covered with a ribbon ofmaterial, for example grossgrain, to enhance the appearance of thesleeve 18. Flaps 76, 78 are provided along portions of the top ends 56,58 of the sheets. The flaps 76, 78 are secured to the top ends of thefront 14 and rear 16 panels to suspend the sleeve 18 from the top endsof the panels between the panel interior surfaces 26. The connection ofthe flaps 76, 78 to the front and rear panels 14, 16 could be bystitching, adhesive, or other equivalent means and is the onlyconnection between the sleeve 18 and the panels.

[0036] A plurality of suspension straps 82, 84 are connected between thebottom ends 62, 64 of the sleeve 18 and the bottom ends 36 of the panels14, 16. The straps can be connected to the sleeve and panels bystitching, adhesives, or other equivalent means. In the preferredembodiment, the straps 82, 84 are about one and one-half inches wide andare elastic straps. The wide straps are preferred, but other types ofcords, bands and webbing could be used in place of the straps. Thestraps are divided into a first group or set of straps 82 and a secondgroup or set of straps 84. The first set of straps 82 each have top ends86 that are connected to the bottom end 62 of the front sheet 52 of thesleeve 18 that in turn is connected to the top end of the front panel14. The bottom ends 88 of the straps of the first set are connected tothe bottom end 36 of the rear panel 16. The second set of straps 84 eachhave top ends 92 that are connected to the bottom end 64 of the rearsheet 54 of the sleeve 18 that in turn is connected to the top end 34 ofthe rear panel 16. The bottom ends 94 of the second set of straps 84 areconnected to the bottom end 36 of the front panel 14. This gives thestraps of the first and second sets 82, 84 a side by side, interweavedarrangements where the straps of the first and second sets alternate asthey extend across the bottom opening 74 of the sleeve 18. Theinterweaved or crisscrossing arrangement of the straps can best be seenin FIGS. 2 and 10. The straps cross at a line of intersection 96 thatdefines the bottom of the protective sleeve 18 on which the object, forexample the laptop computer, rests when inserted into the carrying case12.

[0037] In use of the carrying case 12, the closure strap 50 is firstdetached from its coupling to the front panel 14 providing access to thetop opening 72 of the sleeve 18. The object, such as the computer 98, isinserted downwardly through the sleeve top opening 72 into the interiorof the sleeve 18. The computer 98, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 10, isinserted through the sleeve 18 until the bottom of the computer rests onthe interweaved straps 82, 84 along their line of intersection 96 asshown in FIG. 10. The weight of the object supported on the straps 82,84 will draw the front 14 and rear 16 panels toward each other andagainst the opposite sides of the object. This movement of the panelsadapts the case for use with different size computers or objects. Theclosure strap 50 is then moved across the top of the computer 98 and thesleeve top opening 72 and its fastener is coupled to the mating fasteneron the front panel 14. This securely holds the computer in the sleeve18. The stiff durometer layer 44 of the front and rear panels 14, 16protects the computer from bumps and impacts against the sides of thecarrying case as the case is carried. The soft foam layer 46 on theinterior surfaces of the front and rear panels 14, 16 cushions thecomputer against any bumps against the sides of the case. Should thecase be dropped while carrying the computer or should the case with thecomputer be stored in another case, for example a brief case, and thatcase is dropped, the crisscrossing straps 82, 84 function as a resilientsuspension and stretch and then return to their original configurationsto absorb the force of impact when the bottom ends 36 of the front andrear panels 14, 16 contact the ground or the bottom of the case in whichthe carrying case 12 is carried. In this manner, the carrying case 12 ofthe invention provides lightweight protection for the computer 98against side bumps and against damage from dropping the computer withoutappreciably detracting from the compact size and transportability of thecomputer.

[0038]FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the carrying case. The case102 of FIG. 11 is also constructed of a front panel 104 and rear panel106 as in the previous embodiment, but the two panels are connectedalong their bottom ends by a binder panel 108. All three panels could beconstructed in a similar manner to that of the front and rear panelspreviously described. The connection between the front 104 and rear 106panels with the binder panel 108 enables the front and rear panels topivot relative to the binder panel along their line of connection.

[0039] A first set of elastic straps 112 have their top ends 114connected to the top end of the front panel 104 and their bottom ends116 connected to the bottom end of the rear panel 106. A second set ofelastic straps 118 have their top ends 122 connected to the top end ofthe rear panel 106 and their bottom ends 124 connected to the bottom endof the front panel 104. As in the first embodiment, the first and secondsets of straps 112, 118 are arranged in an interweaved arrangement andcrisscross forming a line of intersection 126 on which the computer orother object rests when carried by this second embodiment of the case102. In this manner, the second embodiment of the case 102 functions toprotect the computer from side impacts of bumping and from being droppedin the same manner as the first described embodiment of the carryingcase 12.

[0040]FIGS. 12 and 13 show a further modification to the first describedembodiment of the carrying case 12. In the modified case shown in FIGS.12 and 13, the front panel 14, rear panel 16 and sleeve 18 constructionsare the same as in the first described embodiment and are identified bytheir same reference numbers. Because these component parts of the caseare the same as the earlier described embodiment, they will not bedescribed again.

[0041] Like the first described embodiment, the modified embodiment ofFIGS. 12 and 13 is also comprised of a plurality of suspension straps132, 134 that are connected between the bottom ends of the sleeve 18 andthe bottom ends of the front and rear panels 14, 16. The straps areconnected to the sleeve and the panels in the same manner as the firstdescribed embodiment. The straps are also divided into a first group orset of straps 132 and a second group or set of straps 134. The straps132 of the first set each have top ends that are connected to the bottomend of the front sheet of the sleeve 18 that in turn is connected to thetop end of the front panel 14. The bottom ends of the straps of thefirst set are connected to the bottom end of the rear panel 16. Thesecond set of straps each have top ends that are connected to the bottomend of the rear sheet of the sleeve 18 that in turn is connected to thetop end of the rear panel 16. The bottom ends of the second set ofstraps 134 are connected to the bottom end of the front panel 14. Thisgives the straps of the first and second sets 132, 134 a side by side,interweaved arrangement where the straps of the first and second setsalternate as they extend across the bottom opening of the sleeve 18.

[0042] The straps of the first and second sets 132, 134 of the FIGS. 12and 13 embodiment of the carrying case differ from the straps of thefirst described embodiment in that each strap is a doubled up strap withtwo overlapping lengths between the top and bottom ends of the strap.Each strap 132 of the first set of straps is formed with two overlappinglengths 132 a, 132 b and each strap 134 of the second set of straps isformed with two overlapping lengths 134 a, 134 b. With the top ends ofthe straps secured to the sleeve 18 and the bottom ends of the strapssecured to one of the front and rear panels 14, 16, the two lengths 132a, 132 b of each strap of the first set of straps can be pulled apartfrom each other exposing a void 136 between the straps and the twolengths 134 a, 134 b of each strap of the second set of straps can bepulled apart from each other exposing a void 138 between the lengths.

[0043] The modification of the first described embodiment of the caseshown in FIGS. 12 and 13 also includes an elongate cushion member 142.In the preferred embodiment the elongate cushion member 142 is formed asa cylindrical foam rod having a length between opposite ends 144, 146that corresponds to the length of the bottom of the sleeve 18. Theelongate cushion member 142 is inserted through the aligned voidsbetween the overlapping lengths of the first and second sets of straps132, 134. In this manner, the cushion is interweaved in the plurality ofstraps and supported in a position below the sleeve 18 and above thebottom edges of the front and rear panels 14, 16 by the first and secondpluralities of straps 132, 134 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0044] The cushion 142, being suspended directly below the sleeve 18,provides additional protection for the contents of the sleeve when thecarrying case 12 is inadvertently dropped. It can be seen in FIG. 13that, when the case is inadvertently dropped and impacts on the bottomedges of the front and rear panels 14, 16, the downward movement of thecontents of the case through the interior of the sleeve 18 will beresisted by the elasticity of the first and second pluralities of straps132, 134. However, if the elasticity of the straps is insufficient tohalt the downward momentum of the contents of the sleeve 18, theelongate cushion member 142 is positioned to cushion any impact of thecontents of the sleeve with the surface on which the carrying case isdropped.

[0045] While the present invention has been described by reference tospecific embodiments, it should be understood that modifications andvariations of the invention may be constructed without departing fromthe scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

What is claimed
 1. a case for transporting one or more objects, the casecomprising: a front panel having opposite exterior and interiorsurfaces, opposite top and bottom ends and opposite side ends; a rearpanel having opposite exterior and interior surfaces, opposite top andbottom ends and opposite side ends; and, a plurality of strapsinterweaved between the front and rear panels, each strap havingopposite top and bottom ends with the top end of each strap beingconnected to one of the front and rear panels and the bottom end of eachstrap being connected to the other of the front and rear panels.
 2. Thecase of claim 1, wherein: the top end of each strap is connected to thetop end of one of the front and rear panels and the bottom end of eachstrap is connected to the bottom end of the other of the front and rearpanels.
 3. The case of claim 1, wherein: each strap is elastic.
 4. Thecase of claim 1, wherein: the front and rear panels are semirigid. 5.The case of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of straps are interweaved sothat the straps having bottom ends connected to the rear panel and topends connected to the front panel alternate with the straps havingbottom ends connected to the front panel and top ends connected to therear panel.
 6. The case of claim 1, wherein: a sleeve for receiving anobject to be transported by the case is positioned between the interiorsurfaces of the front and rear panels, the sleeve has opposite top andbottom ends, the sleeve top end is connected to the top end of at leastone of the front and rear panels and the sleeve bottom end is connectedto the top ends of the plurality of straps.
 7. The case of claim 6,wherein: the sleeve is tubular and has a top opening at its top end anda bottom opening at its bottom end.
 8. The case of claim 6, wherein: thesleeve top end is connected to the top ends of both the front panel andthe rear panel, the sleeve thereby connecting the top ends of theplurality of straps to the top ends of the front and rear panels.
 9. Thecase of claim 2, wherein: a sleeve for receiving an object to betransported by the case is positioned between the interior surfaces ofthe front and rear panels, the sleeve is tubular and has opposite topand bottom openings at opposite top and bottom ends of the sleeve, thesleeve top end has a front portion connected to the top end of the frontpanel and a rear portion connected to the top end of the rear panel andthe sleeve bottom end is connected to the top ends of the plurality ofstraps thereby connecting the top ends of the plurality of straps to thetop ends of the front and rear panels.
 10. The case of claim 1, wherein:a cushion is interweaved in the plurality of straps.
 11. The case ofclaim 10, wherein: the cushion is interweaved in the plurality of strapsbetween the top and bottom ends of each strap.
 12. The case of claim 1,wherein: each strap of the plurality of straps is a doubled up strapwith two overlapping lengths between the top and bottom ends of thestrap.
 13. The case of claim 12, wherein: a cushion is positionedbetween the two overlapping lengths of each strap.
 14. The case of claim12, wherein: a cushion is positioned between the two overlapping lengthsof each strap of the plurality of straps.
 15. A case for transportingone or more objects, the case comprising: a front panel having oppositeexterior and interior surfaces, opposite top and bottom ends andopposite side ends; a rear panel having opposite exterior and interiorsurfaces, opposite top and bottom ends and opposite side ends, theinterior surfaces of the front and rear panels mutually opposing eachother; and, a plurality of straps interweaved between the front and rearpanels, each strap having opposite top and bottom ends, the plurality ofstraps including first and second sets of straps with the top and bottomends of the straps of the first set being connected to the front paneland rear panel, respectively, and with the top and bottom ends of thestraps of the second set being connected to the rear panel and frontpanel, respectively.
 16. The case of claim 15, wherein: the top andbottom ends of each strap of the first set are connected to the top endof the front panel and the bottom end of the rear panel, respectively,and the top and bottom ends of each strap of the second set areconnected to the top end of the rear panel and the bottom end of thefront panel, respectively.
 17. The case of claim 16, wherein: first andsecond sheets are positioned between the front and rear panels, thefirst sheet connects the top ends of the first set of straps to the topend of the front panel and the second sheet connects the top ends of thesecond set of straps to the top end of the rear panel.
 18. The case ofclaim 17, wherein: the first and second sheets are connected togetherforming a tubular sleeve between the front and rear panels with thetubular sleeve having opposite top and bottom openings and with thefirst and second sets of straps interweaved across the bottom opening.19. The case of claim 15, wherein: each of the straps is elastic. 20.The case of claim 15, wherein: the front and rear panels are semirigid.21. The case of claim 15, wherein: the first and second sets of strapsare interweaved in an alternating side-by-side arrangement between theopposite sides of the front and rear panels.
 22. The case of claim 15,wherein: the top end, bottom end and opposite sides of the front panelare spaced from the top end, bottom end and opposite sides,respectively, of the rear panel.
 23. The case of claim 15, wherein: acushion is interweaved in the plurality of straps.
 24. The case of claim23, wherein: the cushion is interweaved in the plurality of strapsbetween the top and bottom ends of each strap.
 25. The case of claim 15,wherein: each strap of the plurality of straps is a doubled up strapwith two overlapping lengths between the top and bottom ends of thestrap.
 26. The case of claim 25, wherein: a cushion is positionedbetween the two overlapping lengths of each strap.
 27. The case of claim25, wherein: a cushion is positioned between the two overlapping lengthsof each strap of the plurality of straps.
 28. A case for transportingone or more objects, the case comprising: a front panel having oppositeexterior and interior surfaces, opposite top and bottom ends andopposite side ends; a rear panel having opposite exterior and interiorsurfaces, opposite top and bottom ends and opposite side ends; a firstsheet between the front and rear panels, the first sheet having oppositetop and bottom ends and opposite side ends, the top end of the firstsheet being connected to the top end of the front panel; a second sheetbetween the front and rear panels, the second sheet having opposite topand bottom ends and opposite side ends, the top end of the second sheetbeing connected to the top end of the rear panel; and a plurality ofstraps connected to the bottom ends of the first and second sheets. 29.The case of claim 28, wherein: the plurality of straps are arranged sideby side along the bottom ends of the first and second sheets.
 30. Thecase of claim 28, wherein: each of the straps is elastic.
 31. The caseof claim 28, wherein: the front and rear panels are semirigid and aremore rigid than the first and second sheets.
 32. The case of claim 28,wherein: the plurality of straps have opposite top and bottom ends andinclude first and second sets of straps, the top and bottom ends of thefirst set of straps are connected to the first sheet bottom end and therear panel, respectively, and the top and bottom ends of the second setof straps are connected to the second sheet bottom end and the frontpanel, respectively.
 33. The case of claim 32, wherein: the bottom endsof the first set of straps are connected to the rear panel bottom endand the bottom ends of the second set of straps are connected to thebottom end of the front panel.
 34. The case of claim 28, wherein: theopposite side ends of the first sheet are connected to the opposite sideends of the second sheet forming a tubular sleeve with opposite top andbottom openings.
 35. The case of claim 28, wherein: a cushion isinterweaved in the plurality of straps.
 36. The case of claim 35,wherein: the cushion is interweaved in the plurality of straps betweenthe top and bottom ends of each strap.
 37. The case of claim 28,wherein: each strap of the plurality of straps is a doubled up strapwith two overlapping lengths between the top and bottom ends of thestrap.
 38. The case of claim 37, wherein: a cushion is positionedbetween the two overlapping lengths of each strap.
 39. The case of claim37, wherein: a cushion is positioned between the two overlapping lengthsof each strap of the plurality of straps.
 40. A case for transportingone or more objects, the case comprising: an enclosure having aninterior volume; a tubular sleeve suspended in the enclosure when theenclosure is in an upright orientation, the sleeve having opposite topand bottom ends with top and bottom openings, respectively, the sleevetop end being connected to the enclosure to suspend the sleeve in theinterior volume of the enclosure; and a plurality of straps connected tothe bottom end of the sleeve, the plurality of straps being arrangedside by side across the bottom opening of the sleeve.
 41. The case ofclaim 40, wherein: the enclosure is semirigid and more rigid than thesleeve.
 42. The case of claim 40, wherein: each of the straps iselastic.
 43. The case of claim 40, wherein: the plurality of straps haveopposite top and bottom ends, the top ends of the straps are connectedto the bottom end of the sleeve and the bottom ends of the straps areconnected to the enclosure.
 44. The case of claim 43, wherein: theenclosure has opposite top and bottom ends, the top end of the sleeve isconnected to the top end of the enclosure and the bottom ends of thestraps are connected to the bottom end of the enclosure.
 45. The case ofclaim 43, wherein: the enclosure has a front and a rear on oppositesides of the enclosure interior volume, and the plurality of strapsinclude first and second sets of straps with the bottom ends of thefirst set of straps being connected to the rear of the enclosure and thebottom ends of the second set of straps being connected to the front ofthe enclosure.
 46. The case of claim 40, wherein: the plurality ofstraps interweave with each other as they extend across the bottomopening of the sleeve.
 47. The case of claim 40, wherein: a cushion isinterweaved in the plurality of straps.
 48. The case of claim 47,wherein: the cushion is interweaved in the plurality of straps betweenthe top and bottom ends of each strap.
 49. The case of claim 40,wherein: each strap of the plurality of straps is a doubled up strapwith two overlapping lengths between the top and bottom ends of thestrap.
 50. The case of claim 49, wherein: a cushion is positionedbetween the two overlapping lengths of each strap.
 51. The case of claim49, wherein: a cushion is positioned between the two overlapping lengthsof each strap of the plurality of straps.